[SOLVED] PC smells quite badly

[xX_noob_Xx]

So, a couple of months back, i swapped out the PSU on my old computer for a new one since the fan was slowly but surely dying. Turns out the PSU was malfunctioning and it kind of blew up and fried my system. Great! I take the decision to get a new computer
since I can't really do much with an 11 year old laptop. I was planning to get the components and build it myself, but since this is my final year of school and with entrance exams on my doorstep I decide to get someone to build it for me. Well, things did not go so well. The GPU was faulty and it had to be RMA'd and a distinctive and quite frankly disgusting smell radiated from the back of the cpu coolers fan, which is also the only fan in my case. After some unbearable days of smelling whatever that smell is, I end up working
with a balcony door fully opened, with the smell ofcourse spreading throughout my room. It's been over 2 months now, and I believe that the radiator is what is smelling so badly. I took it out and tried rubbing it with some ethanol (tried to cover as much surface aread as possible), yet that god awful smell persists, even if it got a tad bit better after I did that. I have an H60 Corsair cooler. The smell is deffinately NOT that of something burning, but as I went through the pain of smelling a half burning PSU on my last computer before it inevitably died, for over 2 weeks, I am concerned whether or not that is just the new cooler off gassing or something unusual; And ofcourse if it is noxius in any way. Thanks in regard!

 

[RAIDGoblin]

If you are correct ,which you probably are; Fingers crossed, then simplest thing I can do is salvage the fans from my old computer provided no cable came to it's melting point, and keep the fan attached onto the current cooler as a case fan

If the smell if from the hose plastic or radiator, doing this this wouldn't reduce the smell, but more fans is no bad thing

One more thing, I could use the cooler I had installed on my previeous computer

That depends on what cooler it is

but I do not have any thermal compound hanging around oh so conviniently for me to apply. Could I simply swap out the coolers without re-applying the paste, or I need to get myself some?

Always use new thermal paste or you won't get good heat transfer

And on a last note, before I even do any of that, is the liquid they put in the cooler special in any way or is it like deionised water? And if so could I attempt to replace that?

Unfortunately not, the Corsair H60 is a sealed unit and even if you could get some (it is specialist stuff) the fluid cant be replaced, I still think you should send it back to the manufacturer

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

The old cooler is one of those vortex round ones with a 9mm fan ontop if I am correct, oddly enough I do not recall seeing any thermal compound when I dissasembled the old computer in order to clean it from dust, and whatnot. It was not the best at doing it's job but at the same time I am not exactly running any extremely CPU intensive applications on my computer so a tad bit higher temperatures won't exactly hurt me. And since I need the computer as mentioned in a previous post for over 12 hours daily I do not have the luxury to simply remove the cooler and RMA it. Would it be ok if I just replaced it with the old one without any paste or with what was left from this one and when I get the new one or get myself access to some paste, act accordingly?

 

[RAIDGoblin]

Would it be ok if I just replaced it with the old one without any paste or with what was left from this one and when I get the new one or get myself access to some paste, act accordingly?

Please don't try to run a 6 core ryzen with no/nearly no thermal paste for 12 hours a day, that is CPU cruelty and it will likely result in expensive damage, thermal paste costs al little as $3.50, it's not worth it

Thermal paste dries out as it gets old, but the layer of ceramic stays so you're old setup almost certainly did have it, it would have just looked like a bit of dirt on the top of the CPU/underneath of the cooler

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

Please don't try to run a 6 core ryzen with no/nearly no thermal paste for 12 hours a day, that is CPU cruelty and it will likely result in expensive damage, thermal paste costs al little as $3.50, it's not worth it

Thermal paste dries out as it gets old, but the layer of ceramic stays so you're old setup almost certainly did have it, it would have just looked like a bit of dirt on the top of the CPU/underneath of the cooler

Ahh yes, I did notice an incredibly thin silver-ish layer ontop of the CPU. The reason im in a pickle is that my country is in lockdown, and if I need anything I need to order it online which takes a considerate ammount of time to reach me. I did not want to have the computer running without thermal paste as well and you just gave me a more than solid reason not to. Will I need anything special in order to remove the previous layer of paste, or I can just wipe it off with a dry piece of paper?

 

[RAIDGoblin]

I'm in the same position with lock-down so I know how you feel

Will I need anything special in order to remove the previous layer of paste, or I can just wipe it off with a dry piece of paper?

A dry piece of tissue paper or cotton cloth should work, if it's dried on a bit to hard for that, you can use isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits, again on cotton cloth, just make certain it has all evaporated away before you apply new thermal paste

 

[Ralston18]

Lots of suggestions and ideas here.

However, I am going to further the suggestion that the system go back to the builder so he can fix it.,

He certainly should be able to smell the problem and also recognize that the issue is not "new smell".

If he refuses to fix the problem or otherwise help you may need to push the matter a bit.

Failing that then the other suggestions and options can be addressed.

A bad smell is one thing. A crashing system or no system at all is another.

And I would be very leery about doing any stress testing especially in light of potential cooling problems.

Do not run without proper thermal paste. Material and application.

Getting too hot may not end well.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

I'm in the same position with lock-down so I know how you feel

A dry piece of tissue paper or cotton cloth should work, if it's dried on a bit to hard for that, you can use isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits, again on cotton cloth, just make certain it has all evaporated away before you apply new thermal paste

I'll see what I can do to get my hands on some thermal paste, and until then I will leave the thread open for any possible updates. Since I still am quite unsure what is causing the AIO to smell so badly, heck who knows if the guy that installed it spilled something on it on accident I could never know that, I will leave the thread open for the time being and update if anything has changed. I greatly appreciate your input on the matter. Cheers

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

Lots of suggestions and ideas here.

However, I am going to further the suggestion that the system go back to the builder so he can fix it.,

He certainly should be able to smell the problem and also recognize that the issue is not "new smell".

If he refuses to fix the problem or otherwise help you may need to push the matter a bit.

Failing that then the other suggestions and options can be addressed.

A bad smell is one thing. A crashing system or no system at all is another.

And I would be very leery about doing any stress testing especially in light of potential cooling problems.

Do not run without proper thermal paste. Material and application.

Getting too hot may not end well.

I have already sent the computer to him twice ( 1st time was because I had audio/video issues and his "fix", reinstalling the OS, did not help at all since it was the graphics card at fault) the second time I had noticed the smell and mentioned it to him but he reassured me it was nothing important and that I should not pay any attention to it. It probably comes down to a combination of me having a better sense of smell than ,well, my parents and him and the fact that I spend quite litteraly more than half my day inside my room holed up forced to both study and attend classes using the computer. I did mention it to him again claiming that it had gotten worse in an attempt to pursue the matter further, yet I got the same result "It's normal for systems to smell for quite some time after they are first launched", which in my opinion and many others is not a valid statement. That is the reason i sought out for help online instead of depending on him and decided that whatever the cause may be I would at the end of the day be the one to handle it. I have admittedly regretted having him set everything up for me, in my attempt to save time, since I have well exceeded the time it would have taken me to setup everything from scratch, while trying to "debug" the problem.

 

[Karadjgne]

One thing I've done in the past is check the rad for leaks. I pull the radiator out of the pc, start the screws back in, then stick the radiator on the table top - screws down so there's a decent gap between the rad and table. Use some toilet paper layed flat on the table. Then start the pc.

If there's a leak in the rad, even a pinhole leak, pressure from the pump will make it leak and blow through the rad onto the toilet paper. Very visible evidence after an hour or so.

Considering how badly hot coolant with its biocides can smell, it's a possibility.

Also can wrap the tubing connections to the rad in tp, they can develop a pinhole leak if stressed that's not always visible unless you actually catch it in the act.

Yes, new electronic components can smell. That's a byproduct of the oils and solder Flux used in the manufacturing process. Usually lasts 1-2 good heat cycles at most.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

One thing I've done in the past is check the rad for leaks. I pull the radiator out of the pc, start the screws back in, then stick the radiator on the table top - screws down so there's a decent gap between the rad and table. Use some toilet paper layed flat on the table. Then start the pc.

If there's a leak in the rad, even a pinhole leak, pressure from the pump will make it leak and blow through the rad onto the toilet paper. Very visible evidence after an hour or so.

Considering how badly hot coolant with its biocides can smell, it's a possibility.

Also can wrap the tubing connections to the rad in tp, they can develop a pinhole leak if stressed that's not always visible unless you actually catch it in the act.

Yes, new electronic components can smell. That's a byproduct of the oils and solder Flux used in the manufacturing process. Usually lasts 1-2 good heat cycles at most.

Computer has been running daily for over 12 hours per day for a good month or so now, hence I doubt I wouldn't have felt a reduction in the smells intensity. That new electronics smell is something that I am aware of, clearly not something exclusive to computers and have come in contact with it through clean installations of larger PCB's in other types of electronics. I will try what you suggested later today and update you on that.

 

[Karadjgne]

I love TP when dealing with anything to do with liquid cooling, airflow testing etc. It's so much more responsive than paper towels, and far more malleable.

 

[carocuore]

About thermal paste: You need it, even if you're not running CPU intensive tasks it will overheat because there's a gap between the chip's heat spreader and the heatsink itself, paste goes there to fill that gap and transfer heat from A to B.

About the cooler: you could refill it, but it's going to be difficult or invove getting a bunch of parts from different stores, since you've mentioned your country is in lockdown I wouldn't do it.
There are 2 main ways to do it depending on which H60 you're using, there are 3 different H60s from 2011, 2013 and 2018. One way is basically draining the old coolant then using a syringe to flush distilled water through it and then new coolant, it's somewhat easy as you don't have to tear apart the entire thing but you won't be able to wash off any residue that's into the pipes or rad. The other involves disassembling everything and do a nice cleaning to each part, you'll have to get new tubes, fittings and clamps though, shouldn't be too expensive but takes more time, oh and my favourite part, getting your hands into a bucket filled with pink coolant to make sure the rad has the least amount of air possible inside 🤣

even if you could get some (it is specialist stuff) the fluid cant be replaced

How is distilled water and biocide specialist stuff? I can get water or a premix for different metals at any gas station, works wonders with modded AIOs and looks nice if you use clear tubing

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

About thermal paste: You need it, even if you're not running CPU intensive tasks it will overheat because there's a gap between the chip's heat spreader and the heatsink itself, paste goes there to fill that gap and transfer heat from A to B.

About the cooler: you could refill it, but it's going to be difficult or invove getting a bunch of parts from different stores, since you've mentioned your country is in lockdown I wouldn't do it.
There are 2 main ways to do it depending on which H60 you're using, there are 3 different H60s from 2011, 2013 and 2018. One way is basically draining the old coolant then using a syringe to flush distilled water through it and then new coolant, it's somewhat easy as you don't have to tear apart the entire thing but you won't be able to wash off any residue that's into the pipes or rad. The other involves disassembling everything and do a nice cleaning to each part, you'll have to get new tubes, fittings and clamps though, shouldn't be too expensive but takes more time, oh and my favourite part, getting your hands into a bucket filled with pink coolant to make sure the rad has the least amount of air possible inside 🤣


How is distilled water and biocide specialist stuff? I can get water or a premix for different metals at any gas station, works wonders with modded AIOs and looks nice if you use clear tubing

If I am in a pickle i shall keep these in mind, some extra knowledge on the matter never hurts

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

I tried the toilet paper method and it came out clean. Problem is the air did not smell (the air coming out of the radiator), while the smell inside the case had gotten a lot weaker it was still there. I will try playing some video games as I finally have spare time, and see what happens when temperatures in there rise. At this point I am just eager to find out whether or not it really is the AIO. I still have it as my main suspect since the last two times I moved it outside of the case it did smell, but I I have raising suspicions that something else might be the case. Again refering to the photos i linked from imgur the smell seems to be originating from the top left corner of the case and it is still noticeable around the center ( where the pump is located ), it is also very noticeable on the top layer of the case and ofcourse where the radiator is located. Just a shot in the dark but is there any posibility the guy messed up something while installing the motherboard in the case and some input got screwd? Ohh and by the way I guess you could describe the smell like a dead rat is getting roasted in there...

 

[Karadjgne]

Eww.

Well, it's not the rad. If there was any leak whatsoever TP will find it. And the smell didn't go away.

Since there's nothing self evident in the places you can see, that only leaves the places you cannot see.
Like behind the motherboard. Try pulling off the backside panel and sticking your nose down by the cpu backplate hole, or any other non-front visible location. It's not beyond the absurd that a baby critter of some sort climbed inside when dude wasn't looking and got trapped. You say it smells like roasted rat, it might just be exactly that.

Worst case scenario, pull the motherboard out, I'd suggest waiting for the weekend when you have a spare hour or so.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

Eww.

Well, it's not the rad. If there was any leak whatsoever TP will find it. And the smell didn't go away.

Since there's nothing self evident in the places you can see, that only leaves the places you cannot see.
Like behind the motherboard. Try pulling off the backside panel and sticking your nose down by the cpu backplate hole, or any other non-front visible location. It's not beyond the absurd that a baby critter of some sort climbed inside when dude wasn't looking and got trapped. You say it smells like roasted rat, it might just be exactly that.

Worst case scenario, pull the motherboard out, I'd suggest waiting for the weekend when you have a spare hour or so.

I removed the back panel of the case and there wasn't even hot air there, at this point that part of the computer had fresher air than my actual room :/ . So it's definitely something on the front side of the motherboard. I guess if I am unnable to locate it, I will have to resort to either complaining to the guy that made the pc yet another time and hopefully he takes a much closer look at it, or I try to get the motherboard out of the case and make a much closer inspection. One more thing, could I disconnect the AIO completely and run the computer for like 30 seconds, to see if it really is the pump that is problematic or is that dangerous as well?

 

[Karadjgne]

According to ppl who have done that, yes you can. At very low loads you'll have a couple of minutes at best. If you have a low-end cpu. The 3600 is only 65w so it'd be ok, according to them.

But I'm not 'them' and for stuff like that I have little faith. I'd be ok with just unplugging the pump/fan for a few minutes, capillary action through the cold plate on the pump/liquid inside will offer much more protection than air. But I'd also keep a firm eye on bios temps (that's roughly a 50% load) and/or temp reading from windows software (under 50%).

You'll most likely get a cpu_fan error, expect that if you remove anything from the cpu_fan header.

 

[RAIDGoblin]

How is distilled water and biocide specialist stuff? I can get water or a premix for different metals at any gas station, works wonders with modded AIOs and looks nice if you use clear tubing

Sorry for my lack of knowledge here I've always thought of those coolers as sealed units and didn't realize they could be refilled, I stand corrected

As for the smell, have you tried the TP test around the hoses and pump?

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge here I've always thought of those coolers as sealed units and didn't realize they could be refilled, I stand corrected

As for the smell, have you tried the TP test around the hoses and pump?

Yes infact I have. I placed the cooler next to the computer on some books and then elevated it using some erasers I had lying around. Then places TP around the hose plugs and at the other side of the radiator. After roughly an hour of running IntelBurn tests and a stable 84 °C temperature the TP was white as a sheet and nothing seemed out of palce (it didn't absorb any smells or coolant). Something I did notice though is some white dried substance in small ammounts on the start of the hoses (the pump side) and some on the pump itself. I do not know if that could cause such an awful smell and I am still unnable to get my hands on any paste :/

 

[RAIDGoblin]

Something I did notice though is some white dried substance in small ammounts on the start of the hoses (the pump side) and some on the pump itself

Any chance of a photo of this ?

 

[cryoburner]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge here : ( I've always thought of those coolers as sealed units and didn't realize they could be refilled, I stand corrected

It might technically be possible to replace an AIO's fluid, though it will likely void its warranty, so it's probably not something to do unless a unit is already outside its warranty period. And if this issue were due to a slight leak or something, it might not actually fix the problem, and could possibly make it worse.

One more thing, I could use the cooler I had installed on my previeous computer, but I do not have any thermal compound hanging around oh so conviniently for me to apply.

An old cooler might not work on a new Ryzen system, since AMD changed their cooler mounting design when moving to socket AM4 when the Ryzen series first launched several years ago.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

I do not know to what extent my crappy phones camera can capture the detail but when I finally have time I will provide one.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

Uhm I am fairly certain there was a piece of ham stuck between one of the motherboards power cords and its plug... I am not yet certain if the smell is gone or not, but I feel like my room stopped smelling like dead rats, soooo I suppose that is a good sign? Idk how he managed to stick that over there but Jesus Christ how did he pull that one off. I will be monitoring the smell and if anything occurs I'll post an update.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Uhm I am fairly certain there was a piece of ham stuck between one of the motherboards power cords and its plug.

LOL
I guess that's better, than what this guy has.

 

[RAIDGoblin]

Uhm I am fairly certain there was a piece of ham stuck between one of the motherboards power cords and its plug... I am not yet certain if the smell is gone or not, but I feel like my room stopped smelling like dead rats

I think a rotten piece of ham would just about do it, ...gross

hope the smell is solved now